no texting, no handheld cell phone use. starting friday, police will be cracking down. >> the first violation is a $40 fine. the second violation is a $100 fine with one point. if you're involved in a crash then the fines go up to $140 and there can be up to three points. >> the law applies not only to maryland motorists, but everybody using maryland roads. we spoke to some drivers at the i-95 rest stop in laurel. >> we have to be more careful. >> last year in maryland, there were 549 traffic fatalities, and many of them were caused by distracted driving. >> 30% of those recent crashes ave been related to people using their cell phones or texting. >> a new study from the highway data loss institute compared collision claims in four states before and after texting bans and found there were more crashes after the bans took effect. researchers think that drivers are lowering thei phones so police can't see them teing. they're doing so and taking their eyes off the road. this public service announcement created by maryland high